Fantasy Football: Lopsided games on NFL's weekend slate

Sunday

Nov 11, 2012 at 6:00 AM

Josh Bousquet Fantasy Football

I guess it's bound to happen since the NFL wants to force us to watch three prime-time games a week, but the league ended up with quite a stinker in Thursday night's matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Goodells-that-be should feel fortunate that Indy quarterback Andrew Luck is apparently the cybernetic laboratory-made offspring of John Elway and Steve Young, so there was some reason to convince the world to watch. It's just unfortunate that Luck showcased his skills against a team ranked 31st in power rankings by ESPN, CBSSports and The Associated Press.

In fact, the Jaguars may be pulling off the rare feat of not having a starting player in some fantasy leagues. Maurice Jones-Drew was the only player keeping them from that infamous spot before the season, but his sprained foot took that away.

His replacement, Rashad Jennings, is starting in 76 percent of CBSSports.com leagues, but seeing as he hasn't even rushed for 60 yards in any game this season and averages only 3.0 yards per carry, there's no need to keep him in that slot.

Side note: When perusing the Jags' roster, I found that they had a kicker in camp named Sam Swank. It's unfortunate that he didn't make the roster, for he then would have received my nod as “NFL player whose name sounds most like a porn actor.”

And yes, that does mean Colt McCoy still holds that accolade.

Amazingly, the NFL went a perfect 2 for 2 in the putrid off-day marquee matchup this week as the Kansas City Chiefs, ranked 32nd in the aforementioned polls, get the Monday-night matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This pits that consensus-worst team against a defense that ranks first in the league against the pass (174.0 yards per game) and seventh against the run (88.6), good for first overall. The Chiefs amazingly have the third-best rushing attack in the league (149.9), but that is only because they can do so little through the air (207.6).

Seeing as KC gives up 30 points per game, look for the Steelers to put up big numbers, and so play anyone on their offense you own.

Even those odd, bad matchups have their obvious fantasy implications, but there are a couple of matchups that intrigue me for their chance at giving great games.

Every game the Atlanta Falcons play this season will be interesting as long as they are undefeated, and who would have thought they would meet the Saints this week being five games up on their division foe.

Some (fake) fire was added to Atlanta's perfection quest this week when receiver Roddy White was quoted as saying, “I'm hoping so,” by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution when asked if his squad could go 16-0. “I think we have the pedigree to do it.”

Why would anyone not say that they think they can win every week? If you're on my team, I want you going out on the field thinking you're going to win. And the team is halfway there, the only undefeated one left, so the idea is going to come up.

And it's not like White had the chutzpah to guarantee Atlanta would do it, just that they could.

The pedigree he speaks of is a reasonable one as well. Last week, the Falcons looked a little vulnerable, winning only 19-13 against Dallas, but quarterback Matt Ryan still played well despite the close score.

Fantasy owners may not have been very pleased with his no-touchdown performance, but he didn't throw any interceptions either, while completing 24 of 34 passes for 342 yards.

Ryan has thrown for 2,360 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, making both White (47 receptions, 709 yard, four TDs) and Julio Jones (40, 628, five) top-tier fantasy receivers. This week, Atlanta takes on New Orleans defense that is ranked 29th against the pass (294.8 yards) and last against the run (176.5).

New Orleans has remained semirespectable and slightly feared, though, because of an offense that still can put up points. Quarterback Drew Brees entered the week leading the league in passing yards (2,549), and the Saints rank fifth overall in offense at 386.4 yards per game, including second through the air (305.4). They're also scoring more than 27 points a game, but since that still has left them with a sub-.500 record, today's game promises to be a shootout.

I am not only looking to the air this weekend; the Chargers-Buccaneers matchup has me watching what happens on the ground. San Diego is ranked fourth against the run (84.0), while Tampa Bay has won two straight games largely on the running of rookie Doug Martin.

Two weeks ago against Minnesota, Martin carried 29 times for 135 yards (4.7 average) with a touchdown before exploding for 251 yards on 25 carries (10.0 average) and four scores against Oakland.

Those two games transformed Martin from a rookie with promise into a budding star with 794 rushing yards and seven touchdowns for the season. If he can put together another big game against a stouter defense, it will be time to put Martin in the conversation with Luck when it comes to talking of top offensive rookies.

Unfortunately, the NFL didn't see fit to schedule the Bucs against the Colts this season to help that debate.